Drug Use in Very Rural Alaska Villages

Abstract

The Alaska Native Preschool Project was centered in the Head Start Programs of two typical Alaska native villages near the Bering Sea. Data were collected over 5 years, 1990 to 1995, from preschool parents (N = 342) with surveys, a panel of villagers (N = 25 to 30) using qualitative interviews; villagers using participant observation; and a limited review of public records. The villages typify the changing life of Alaskan villagers who live in the Bering Straits area. Qualitative data indicated that a number of problems were associated with drug and alcohol use in the villages. The level of smokeless tobacco use from surveys in the previous month among preschool parents (41%) was self-reported to be almost 10 times greater than the national level reported in the 1995 National Household Survey. The use of marijuana reported by preschool parents in the previous month was almost 3 times higher than the 1995 National Household Survey estimates (19 vs 6.7%). Tobacco use in the previous month was reported at over 56%, a level that was over 1 1/2 times the level of use at 34.7% estimated from the 1995 National Household Survey. For 26-34 year olds, previous month alcohol use was lower for the village parents than estimated from the 1995 National Household Survey (38 vs 63%). The self-reported levels of other drug use among preschool parents were very low compared with overall United States rates.

Risk, resilience, and natural recovery: a model of recovery from alcohol abuse for Alaska Natives

“…The overwhelming focus of existing research is on health disparities associated with alcohol abuse, patterns of drinking and etiology (e.g. [18–24]). Moreover, existing work is generally survey‐based and conducted at urban treatment centers [20,25–27].…”

An Analysis of Substance Use Among Adolescents From Smaller Places

“…Current research indicates that rates of adolescent substance use for most populations living in smaller places is the same or only slightly lower than national averages (Cronk and Sarvela, 1997;Donnermeyer, 1992;Oetting, et al, 1997). Further, there appears to be little in the way of rural-urban differentials in rates of use for various substances by age, gender, race and other personal characteristics of the population (Booth, et al, 1999;Cronk and Sarvela, 1997;Dawkins, 1996;Pope, et al, 1994;Donnermeyer, 1997, 1998;Stillner, et al, 1999;Whitehead, et al, 1992). The contemporary rural-based literature on substance use also indicates a similar pattern of relationships between substance use and other risky behaviors for both rural and urban youth (Donnermeyer, 1992;Mc-Coy, et al, 1999;Puskar, et al, 1999).…”

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Among Rural Minorities

“…Native Alaskans suffer from disproportionately high alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. 10 This group, as well as Native Americans, suffers greater health problems associated with alcohol use and depression than other minority groups. 11 Fewer drug prevention programs, moreover, are found in minority communities.…”